Table of Contents

• President's Letter
• 11th World Congress on Women's Mental Health
• IAWMH Statement Against War
• Candidates solicited for 2027-2029 Executive Committee
• From the Journal Editor in Chief, Archives of Women's Mental Health
• Honorio Delgato Medal awarded to IAWMH Past President Marta Rondon
• IAWMH Secretary Ruby Castilla-Puentes' Awards
• Webinar, 17 September 2026: Gender perspective in Psychiatry and Mental Health Disorders: A need for Human Rights
• Paper Commentary, ADHD Across the Female Reproductive Lifespan

Candidates Solicited for IAWMH
President-elect, Secretary and Treasurer

On behalf of the Nominations Committee, we are pleased to inform you that nominations are now being solicited for the IAWMH Executive Committee for the period of 2027-2029.

The following posts are open for nominations:

• President-elect (Vice President for 2027-2029, who will become President for 2029-2031)
• Secretary (2027-2029)
• Treasurer (2027-2029)

10th World C10th World Congress on Women's Mental Health Abstracts

Published as a Supplement to the Journal,

Archives of Women's Mental Health

We are pleased to provide the link to the abstracts from the 2025 IAWMH Congress held in Bangalore, India. These were published in the 16 April 2026 in the Archives of Women's Mental Health, Volume 29, article 65.

Inviting articles for publication to the Journal,

Archives of Women's Mental Health

Archives of Women's Mental Health is a comprehensive journal focusing on all aspects of women's mental health.

• Publishes original contributions from fields such as psychiatry, psychology, gynaecology, obstetrics, and more.
• Encourages interdisciplinary studies and research.
• Official journal of the IAWMH, Marcé Society, and NASPOG
• Accepts various article types including original papers, systematic reviews, short communications, and more.

To submit, click here!

A paper that captured my interest

by Dr. Prabha S. Chandra,

Past President of the International Association for Women’s Mental Health (IAWMH), and Editor in Chief, Archives of Women's Mental Health

The Archives of Women’s Mental Health is the official journal of the IAWMH and, under the leadership of Professor Anita Reicher-Rossler, has become one of the most sought-after journals for publishing and reading papers in this field.

Starting from June 2025, the IAWMH newsletter will feature an article (chosen by one of us) that we found most interesting from the previous 12 months of the Archives. While the selection will initially be led by the leadership of IAWMH, we hope this initiative will take on a life of its own, with members—especially early-career professionals—contributing to this section.



Articles published over the past year have been of exceptionally high quality. The thematic supplements have provided rich material on various topics such as women and conflict, refugee mental health and cognition and maternal mental health. While it was difficult to choose, the article I found most compelling explored cognitive household labour in young mothers and its implications for their mental health. This paper was published in the supplement titled Cognition and Motherhood (Aviv et al., 2025).

Invisible Work: How Cognitive Labour Affects the Mental Health of Mothers



This is a fascinating study due to its attention to cognitive household tasks—a concept that is difficult to measure and often not recognized. Examples of cognitive tasks that mothers of young children might be expected to perform, involving thinking, planning, and organizing, include discussing with others the kind of childcare needed; identifying carers within the family, through websites, word of mouth, emails, Facebook posts, or agencies; managing transportation concerns; conducting interviews of helpers (scheduling, conducting, reference checking); planning work schedules; and negotiating terms of employment. Other examples include planning children’s meal menus and sourcing ingredients, handling doctors’ appointments, immunisation schedules and creating avenues for play and stimulation. These tasks, while not physical, require considerable effort and time and can be quite exhausting.

The study was conducted among cisgender heterosexual women who had a partner. The authors had two hypotheses: first, that women would report doing more of both cognitive and domestic labour than their male partners, and second, that this gender discrepancy would be greater for cognitive labour. Women were expected to spend more time planning tasks than men, even if task execution was more equally divided. The authors also hypothesised that mothers reporting larger shares of domestic labour would exhibit poorer psychological functioning and lower couple relationship quality. Mental health measures included depression, burnout, and stress.

A total of 322 mothers of young children (three years of age) were assessed for the division of both cognitive (“planning”) and physical (“execution”) household labour across 30 common household tasks, using cards that depicted or listed various activities. The authors then employed a series of multiple linear regression models to test associations, controlling for covariates such as work setting (remote vs. in-person), childcare arrangements, education, ethnicity, and income.

Several important findings emerged. Mothers reported being responsible for significantly more of the household workload than their male partners—not a surprise at all! Specifically, mothers reported greater responsibility for the cognitive labour of 29 out of 30 tasks and the physical labour for 28 out of 30 tasks. On average, mothers performed 72.57% of all cognitive labour compared to their partners’ 27.43%. They also reported doing 63.64% of all physical domestic labour, compared to 36.36% by their partners. Less cognitively demanding tasks unrelated to childcare (e.g., garbage, home maintenance, and bill payments) tended to be more equally divided, whereas cognitively demanding, child-related were largely handled by mothers.

Interestingly, the burden of physical household tasks was not associated with depressive symptoms, stress, personal burnout, or overall mental health. However, mothers who reported a greater share of the cognitive workload at home experienced poorer mental health and lower.

This study is interesting as it is one of the first studies to measure both cognitive and physical dimensions of the same household tasks and relate it to mental health of young mothers. It appears that cognitive labour may have a particularly significant impact on psychological well-being because it draws on mental reserves, yet remains invisible and is often unrecognized by both mothers and their families as either work or accomplishment.

Can we generalise these findings? This study was conducted in a high-income country, where mothers may have access to more benefits, better resources, and live in societies where housework is not strictly gender-defined. In cultures with high food insecurity or where women are traditionally responsible for both children and housework—often with meagre resources—this study’s findings may be even more relevant. Recognising the burden of excessive or one-sided cognitive labour related to childcare appears to identify a potential risk factor for poor maternal mental health. Addressing it may be crucial for prevention and early intervention strategies.

References

Aviv, E., Waizman, Y., Kim, E., & others. (2025). Cognitive household labor: Gender disparities and consequences for maternal mental health and wellbeing. Archives of Women’s Mental Health, 28(1), 5–14. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-024-01490-w

For Further Reading on the Topic

Reich-Stiebert, N., Froehlich, L., & Voltmer, J. B. (2023). Gendered mental labor: A systematic literature review on the cognitive dimension of unpaid work within the household and childcare. Sex Roles, 88(7–8), 475–494. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-023-01352-0

Seedat, S., & Rondon, M. (2021). Women’s wellbeing and the burden of unpaid work. BMJ, 374, n1972. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n1972

Congratulations to IAWMH Past President Marta Rondon

Marta Rondon, IAWMH Past President, from Lima, Peru, was awarded the Honorio Delgato Medal on the occasion of the forty-fourth anniversary of the National Institute of Mental Health, for all her contribution in research, inspiring and supporting so much with her permanent technical consultation in national normative development, training and improvement in comprehensive care for survivors of violence and perinatal mental health.

Bravo, Marta!

IAWMH Celebrates Dr. Ruby Castilla-Puentes

The International Association for Women's Mental Health is pleased to congratulate our Secretary, Dr. Ruby Castilla-Puentes, on receiving two prestigious awards in May 2026: the American Psychiatric Association Presidential Commendation Award and the Dr. Pedro Ruiz Award in Social Psychiatry from the American Society of Hispanic Psychiatry.

These honors recognize her exceptional leadership and enduring contributions to women's mental health, mental health equity, social psychiatry, and the advancement of culturally responsive care for underserved communities. Dr. Castilla-Puentes has also been a dedicated mentor and advocate for international collaboration in psychiatry and public health.

We are proud to recognize Dr. Castilla-Puentes for these well-deserved achievements and thank her for her continued service to IAWMH and the global women's mental health community.

Congratulations, Dr. Castilla-Puentes

Webinar,17 September 2026:

Gender Perspective in Psychiatry and Mental Health Disorders: A Need for Human Rights

Program

click here for details

Use the following times from which you may determine your own

time zone on 17 September 2026:

New York, EST - 11am - 12:30pm

London, UK, GMT - 4pm - 5:30pm

Barcelona, Paris, CET - 5pm - 6:30pm

Middle East - 6pm - 7:30pm

India, IST - 9:30pm - 11pm

Moderator - Welcome

Ruby Castilla-Puentes, MD, DrPH, MBA, Secretary, International Association for Women’s Mental Health

Q & A

Ruby Castilla-Puentes, MD, DrPH, MBA, Secretary, International Association for Women’s Mental Health

ADHD Across the Female Reproductive Lifespan:

A Women's Mental Health Perspective

Paper commentary by Dr. Ruby Castilla-Puentes, IAWMH Secretary

Commentary on Boyd, C., Wrigley, M., Kilbride, K., et al. (2026)¹

ADHD and the Female Reproductive Stages: Menstruation, Perinatal and Menopause. Archives of Women's Mental Health.

Summary of the Article

In this timely review, Boyd and colleagues (2026) explore how Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) interacts with key reproductive stages in women's lives, including menstruation, pregnancy and the postpartum period, and menopause. The authors highlight growing evidence that hormonal fluctuations—particularly changes in estrogen—can influence attention, executive functioning, emotional regulation, and treatment response in women with ADHD (Faraone et al., 2021; Young et al., 2020). By integrating findings from psychiatry, neuroscience, endocrinology, and women's health, the review advances an important perspective: ADHD in women should be understood not as a static condition but as one that evolves across the reproductive lifespan.

Significance of the Work

Historically, ADHD research has focused primarily on boys and men, contributing to delayed diagnosis and underrecognition in women (Quinn & Madhoo, 2014). Many women receive a diagnosis only in adulthood after years of struggling with inattentiveness, emotional dysregulation, and executive dysfunction. Boyd and colleagues challenge traditional approaches by emphasizing that reproductive transitions can significantly alter symptom expression. Their work supports a growing movement toward gender-sensitive models of ADHD assessment and treatment that recognize the influence of hormonal changes throughout life (Young et al., 2020).

ADHD and Menstruation

One of the review's most clinically relevant contributions is its discussion of menstrual-cycle-related symptom variation. Many women report worsening concentration, distractibility, irritability, and emotional sensitivity during the late luteal phase and immediately before menstruation (Nadeau et al., 2015). Declining estrogen levels during this phase may affect dopamine pathways involved in attention and executive functioning, contributing to temporary worsening of ADHD symptoms (Faraone et al., 2021). Some women also describe reduced effectiveness of stimulant medications at specific points in their cycle (Quinn & Madhoo, 2014). Recognition of these cyclical patterns may help clinicians avoid misdiagnosis and support more individualized treatment strategies.

ADHD During Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period

The perinatal period presents unique challenges for women living with ADHD. Difficulties with organization, planning, and attention may interfere with prenatal care, medication management, and preparation for parenthood (Barkley et al., 2010). Women with ADHD also have higher rates of comorbid anxiety and depression, increasing vulnerability during pregnancy (Young et al., 2020). The review highlights ongoing debates regarding ADHD medication use during pregnancy. While concerns about fetal safety often lead women to discontinue treatment, untreated ADHD can also have negative consequences, affecting self-care, sleep, occupational functioning, and adherence to medical recommendations. Boyd and colleagues advocate for individualized risk-benefit assessments rather than universal discontinuation of medication, consistent with broader perinatal mental health recommendations (ACOG, 2023).The postpartum period may be especially challenging due to sleep deprivation, hormonal changes, and increased caregiving demands. Emerging evidence suggests that women with ADHD may be at increased risk for postpartum depression, anxiety, and parenting stress (Taylor et al., 2022).

Perinatal Loss, Bereavement, and Women's Mental Health

Although not a central focus of the review, the discussion of perinatal mental health highlights the importance of addressing reproductive loss. Women with ADHD may experience particular difficulties coping with grief because of emotional dysregulation and increased vulnerability to mood disorders. Perinatal loss is associated with depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress symptoms, and complicated grief (Cacciatore, 2013; Gold et al., 2016). Innovative approaches to bereavement care are therefore essential. One promising development is the creation of Perinatal Bereavement Rooms (PBRs), dedicated hospital spaces designed to support families experiencing stillbirth, neonatal death, or pregnancy loss. As described in our review, these rooms provide privacy, dignity, opportunities for memory-making, and access to emotional support. This work emphasizes that the physical environment itself can become a therapeutic intervention, facilitating healing and reducing trauma. Such initiatives represent an important component of compassionate, trauma-informed women's mental health care (Castilla-Puentes et al.,2025).

ADHD and Menopause

The review's discussion of menopause is particularly compelling. Increasing numbers of women are seeking ADHD evaluation during midlife, often after decades of unrecognized symptoms. Many report worsening concentration, forgetfulness, mental fatigue, and executive dysfunction during the menopausal transition (Maki et al., 2019). Boyd and colleagues suggest that declining estrogen levels may unmask previously compensated ADHD symptoms. Women who successfully managed challenges earlier in life may find that hormonal changes reduce their ability to compensate, leading to significant impairment in daily functioning.These observations underscore the importance of considering ADHD when evaluating cognitive complaints during perimenopause and menopause. Earlier recognition may lead to more effective treatment and improved quality of life.

Strengths, Limitations, and Future Directions

A major strength of the review is its lifespan perspective, integrating biological, psychological, and social factors across reproductive stages. It also addresses a longstanding gender gap in ADHD research and provides practical recommendations for clinicians. At the same time, significant knowledge gaps remain. Much of the current evidence is based on observational studies and retrospective reports. Longitudinal studies examining hormonal biomarkers, symptom trajectories, and treatment response across reproductive stages are urgently needed. Future research should also explore interventions tailored to reproductive transitions, including pregnancy, postpartum adaptation, bereavement, and menopause.

Concluding Reflections

Boyd and colleagues provide an important contribution to women's mental health by demonstrating that ADHD symptoms are deeply influenced by reproductive transitions across the lifespan. Their review highlights the need for gender-sensitive approaches to diagnosis and treatment and encourages clinicians to consider menstruation, pregnancy, reproductive loss, and menopause as critical contexts in understanding women's experiences with ADHD. Ultimately, this work moves the field toward a more comprehensive understanding of ADHD in women and reinforces the importance of integrating reproductive psychiatry, neurodevelopmental science, and women's health in both research and clinical practice.



References

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (2023). Screening and diagnosis of mental health conditions during pregnancy and postpartum. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 141(5), 1262–1288.

Barkley, R. A., Murphy, K. R., & Fischer, M. (2010). ADHD in adults: What the science says. Guilford Press.

Boyd, C., Wrigley, M., Kilbride, K., et al. (2026). ADHD and the female reproductive stages: Menstruation, perinatal and menopause. Archives of Women's Mental Health.

Cacciatore, J. (2013). Psychological effects of stillbirth. Seminars in Fetal and Neonatal Medicine, 18(2), 76–82..

Castilla-Puentes R, Isidoro AF, Orosito A, Eaton S, Goyeneche M, Cabrales LG, Santaella G. Perinatal bereavement rooms: a narrative review of physical space in perinatal grief. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2025 Nov;312(5):1515-1527.

Faraone, S. V., Banaschewski, T., Coghill, D., et al. (2021). The World Federation of ADHD International Consensus Statement. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 128, 789–818.

Gold, K. J., Leon, I., Boggs, M. E., & Sen, A. (2016). Depression and posttraumatic stress symptoms after perinatal loss. Journal of Women's Health, 25(3), 263–269.

Maki, P. M., Kornstein, S. G., Joffe, H., et al. (2019). Guidelines for the evaluation and treatment of perimenopausal depression. Menopause, 26(10), 1178–1201.

Nadeau, K. G., Littman, E. B., & Quinn, P. O. (2015). Understanding women with ADHD. Advantage Books.

Quinn, P. O., & Madhoo, M. (2014). A review of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in women and girls. Primary Care Companion for CNS Disorders, 16(3).

Taylor, C. L., Newlove-Delgado, T., & Sayal, K. (2022). ADHD in women and girls: Epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment. Current Psychiatry Reports, 24(8), 391–402.

Young, S., Adamo, N., Ásgeirsdóttir, B. B., et al. (2020). Females with ADHD: An expert consensus statement taking a lifespan approach. BMC Psychiatry, 20, 404.